Trip up Big Thompson Canyon reveals extent of flood destruction

Sep. 26, 2013

This car was smashed against a rock in the Big Thompson River on Wednesday. / Courtesy of Dan Dugal

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Flood damage to the lower part of Big Thompson Canyon has made it impassable beyond the remnants of Indian Village, according to a Fort Collins man.

Dan Dugal and his friend Amanda Finch traveled about 5 miles up the canyon Wednesday in hopes of reaching Finch’s cabin near Drake.

Finch had heard from a neighbor that her house was destroyed by a landslide coming off the canyon wall during the height of the flooding two weeks ago, Dugal said. Finch wanted to see the damage personally to make an insurance claim.

The couple showed National Guard troops stationed at the mouth of the canyon property records that allowed them access to the area and what remains of U.S. Highway 34.

A lack of tracks on sandbars indicated they were among the first people to try traveling up the canyon, Dugal said. They shot videos and still photographs to document the trip.

They rode and carried bikes to within 2 miles of the cabin. But they abandoned the trip when they scaled a rock face and could see no chance of biking or hiking farther because of a sheer cliff.

“The river had scoured out the entire road down to the bedrock,” he said. “There was no way around it without climbing gear.”

The extent of damage in the canyon was astonishing, said Dugal, who advised residents to stay out of the area.

“Don’t bother trying,” he said. “It’s really dangerous, and you are not going to get there.”